Ravel stop for knitted stockings



April 7, 1934. J. A. GOODMAN 1,955,364

RAVEL STOP FOR KNITTED STOCKINGS Filed Feb. 1. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aril 17, 1934. J. A. GOODMAN RAVEL STOP FOR KNITTED STOCKINGS FiledFeb. 1. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 17, 15934 STATES FFl 5 Claims.

lhis invention relates to knitted fabric articles, particularly hosiery,and involves novel means for preventing the raveling of the fabricbeyond a predetermined line therein when one or more of the interlockingthread loops breaks under wear or tension of the fabric.

The invention may readily be applied to any knit fabric but isparticularly useful in connection with the type comprising successivecourses of interlocked loops which is most susceptible to runs. In suchfabric when the yarn in a needle loop is broken, the fabric will run inone direction, 1. e., loops in that needle wale in one direction beyondthe break will progressively release each other. If a sinker loop isbroken the run will follow the sinker wale in exactly the same manner,except that it will run in the opposite direction.

With this in View my invention in its broadest aspect comprises the artof locking one loop in each of the needle or sinker wales or in bothincluded in that area of fabric which is to be rotected. lock needleloops to prevent runs one direction or sinker loops to prevent runsmation comprising additional thread and includ ing a continuous seriesof loops which are interknit with the thread loops in successive walesof the stocking fabric and which traverse the fabric area to beprotected. construction may be,

1 preferably is, applied to the fabric after the same has been fullyknit and, therefore, does not necessitate any special attachment for themachine by which the fabric is produced. It may, therefore, be appliedwith equal advantage at any desired point. Furthermore, while for fullprotection in all wales of the fabric the present ravel stop should havea direction generally transverse thereof, it is not necessary that thesame extend coursewise or in a straight line.

The independent stitch formation which according to the presentinvention is to serve as a ravel stop may comprise one or moreadditional threads formed by any of a variety of loopforming mechanismsinto a continuous line of interlocking loops, and superposed upon andinterlocked with the fabric. The particular stitch formation is notimportant, it being only necessary that the same comprise or include aseries of recurring loops which can be formed to em gage and interlockloops of the fabric in a line transversely thereof. These recurrentloops may be closely spaced so that they interlock adjacent loops orthey may interlock alternate or spaced loops. There can be a pluralityof these independent stitch formations and especially in the latterinstance this is desirable in order that all loops will be interlockedeven though each stitch formation misses certain loops. As above stated,it is not necessary that the stitch formation extend directly coursewiseor in a straight line. In case there are a plurality of lines, they maybe parallel or angularly disposed. The primary requirement is that atleast one interlocking loop passes through one loop in each needle walor in each sinker Wale or in a loop of each of both the needle andsinker wales, depending upon the type of auxiliary stitch formationresorted to and upon the direction in which running is to be prevented.Under any circumstances, and whether the ravel stop includes one or aplurality of lines of stitches, I deem it advisable to look a loop inevery needle Wale and every sinker Wale in the area of fabric to beprotected.

Although the particular stitch structure of the interlocking stitch isof minor importance, I have found that a looping stitch formation of thetype employed in joining the edges of adjacent portions of fabric, suchas in the heel and toe of a full fashioned stocking, may be employed toadvantage. A so-called looping machine may be used to attain the desiredconstruction.

It is, of course, desirable that the stitch formation be substantiallyas elastic as the portion of the fabric with which it is to beassociated in order not to bind the latter. Preferably also, as in thelooping-stitch formation just referred to, two threads are used informing the ravel stop, the same being formed into series of loops onboth sides of the fabric and interlocked with each other at closeintervals along spaced lines through the loops of the fabric. Forornamental purposes the two threads may be of different color. Sucharrangement serves not only to lock the loops of the fabric along theline of the stitch formation, but causes a band of fabric to beencompassed between the two series of loops. The two lines along whichthe loops of the two series are in-- terlocked should be in closeproximity and the loops themselves should not be too tight as it isundesirable that the stitch formation should buckle or otherwise distortthe fabric. In order to make the looping stitches elastic enough themachine is adjusted to make elongated stitches. However, that is amatter of the looping machine itself and requires no further discussionin this application.

I can, in the knitting process, elongate the knitting loops that are toreceive the looping stitches. However, this is not necessary. It may bedesirable, in order to facilitate the superposition of the stitchformation without injuring or distorting the fabric, to provide twocourses of enlarged loops .in the fabric during the course of knittingthereof, the same being calculated to receive the points of the loopingmachine and constitute convenient places in the fabric through which theloops of the stitch formation may be inserted to interlock the loops ofthe fabric. Preferably such courses of loops are closely spaced as it isordinarily desirable that the ravel stop be relatively narrow.

My invention is applicable to stockings and other articles comprisingopen-meshed or orna- 1 mental stitch fabrics, including those in whichsome of the fabric loops are laterally transferred during the course ofknitting. In the latter connection it may be noted that the provision ofone or more courses of laterally transferred loops has in the past beenresorted to for the purpose of providing a ravel stop line in hosiery.Without discussing the merits of such construction when used alone, itshould be pointed out that the stitch formation of the present inventionmay be superposed upon and interlocked with a course or coursesinvolving loop transfer to constitute therewith a ravel stop line whichwill positively assure the stoppage of runs without itselfdisintegrating. Furthermore, since the proposed stitch formation issubstantially unobvious, it will not impair the appearance of open workfabric produced by lateral transfer of loops therein.

In addition to serving as a ravel stop, the proposed stitch formationmay, if desirable, be used to attach a supplementary band of fabric orlacework to a stocking or other article. Thus, for example, a garterreceiving band such as suggested in Thierfelder Patent No. 1,206,171 maybe separately formed and firmly secured to a stocking by the ravel stopstitch formation.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have in theaccompanying drawings shown several embodiments and applicationsthereof, the same being illustrative, merely, and not to be taken aslimiting my invention. In such drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a stocking with several ravelstops according to the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a section of plain fabric to which myravel stop may be applied, showing two spaced courses of enlarged loops,which may be desirable;

Fig. 3-12. represents a conventional type of looping machine which maybe utilized in accord ance with the present invention;

Fig. 3-b is an enlarged fragmentary view showing particularly the mannerin which the fabric to be protected is applied to the pins of a loopingmachine for the production of the ravel stop shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a section of fabric similar tothat of Fig. 2 showing one type of independent stitch constructionsuperposed thereon to constitute a ravel stop according to the presentinvention;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a modification; and

Fig. '7 is a vertical section, slightly enlarged, of the constructionshown in Fig. 6.

With reference to the drawings, generally, it should be pointed out thatthe same are all more or less diagrammatic and that while they areaccurate structurally, correct proportioning of the various parts has tosome extent been sacrificed for purposes of clarity.

Fig. 1 shows a knitted stocking comprising a welt portion 10, a legportion 11, and a foot portion 12. Below the welt at the upper end ofthe leg is a band of reinforced single fabric 13, the same beingoptional and not essential to the present invention. Such stocking maycomprise successive courses of loops forming a fabric of the typegenerally illustrated in Fig. 2. A circumferential ravel stop 14comprising an independent stitch formation superposed upon andinterlocking with a line of loops of the stocking fabric is shown in thereinforced single fabric 13 below the welt. Similar ravel stops may belocated at any place in the length of the stocking from the upper edgeto the toe, the place selection being governed simply by the particularneed of ravel prevention in any particular case. Thus, an illustrativeexample would be a ravel stop such as 15 located in the leg portion 11.In any event, the ravel stop may entirely encircle the stocking, butwill at least traverse as much of the fabric area as it is desired toprotect.

The stitch formation constituting the ravel stop should be such that aseries of loops thereof will extend across the wales of the stockingfabric and interlock with the loops thereof. Preferably, as shown inFigs. 4 and 5, two threads 16 and 17 are used, the same being loopedback and forth on both sides of the fabric 18 and interlocked togetherthrough the loops of the fabric. looping machine.

As seen from the drawings the looping loops 1 pass through all theneedle loops 2% of one course as indicated at the reference character25. This prevents running in one direction. Looping loops pass througheach of the sinker loops 26 at the points 27 to prevent raveling in theopposite direction. The arrangement is such that every needle loop andevery sinker loop traversed by the ravel stop is locked againstraveling, each loop 25 of the stitch formation 1 welt, nevertheless itis known that runs spread from wale to wale. By locking both needlewales and sinker wales against raveling, a run started, for example, inthe welt of the stocking could not possibly find a vulnerable wale byway of which it could work through my ravel stop, because with my ravelstop absolutely every wale is protected. Therefore, in the preferredembodiment of my looping stitch, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, suchspreading of runs under no circumstance will permit a run to pass fromone side of the run stop to the other in either direction. All thefabric on one side of the run stop might be removed and still therewould be no running beyond the run stop.

Such construction may be produced by a vision of inec discussed here;

As noted in Figs. 4 and 5 I use a looping stitch which requires twothreads 16 and 17. The thread 16 is the one that passes through both theneedle loops and sinker loops to loci; both needle wales and sinkerwales. The thread 17 interlooks with the thread 16 and does not passthrough the fabric as is clearly seen from Fig. 4. It is clear from thisthat the thread 17 will appear only on one side of the fabric. In theembodiment of Fig. 4 it is shown on the wale or face side of the fabric.The portion of the looping stitch structure which includes the yarn 1'7presents a more bulky appearance on that side of the fabric. Thvconnecting loops 16 extend through the fabric and appear on the otherface of the fabric simply as two bars 23 between the points 25 and 27where this yarn extends through the fabric.

In the stocking these bars 28 lie very close to the fabric and arepractically invisible if they are of yarn similar to the knitting yarn.On the opposite face of the fabric, that face of the fabric which hasthe yarn 17, the ravel stop is visible but by the proper selection ofyarn it can be almost imperceptible and hardly noticeable on casualobservation. Thus, it is desired to hide the ravel stop as much aspossible and make it almost invisible, the threads 17 are placed on theinside or loop side of the fabric and yarns that simulate the knittingyarns are used in looping.

The run stop can, however, be made to function as ornamentation inaddition to run preven tion means. if this is desired, the interlockingthread 1? can be made to appear on the Wale side of the fabric. Themanner in which the yarn 17 can be made to appear on either the waleside or loop side of ti: fabric will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art. Various ornamental effects can be produced by thislooping operation, depending upon the selection of looping yarn and varous adjustments in the looping machine. However, that is a factor thatneed not be elaborated upon in this case.

To prevent distortion of the fabric due to the stitch formation, theloops of the threads and 1'? should preferably be long enough to easilyencompass without binding as many courses of fabric as it desired toincorporate in the ravel stop portion. I have shown two courses betweenthe points and 28 where the looping extends through the fabric. In thepreferred embodiment vent-ion. it is desirable that the points 25 Of thel 28 be closely spaced so that only a very narr:. v band of :abric beencompassed by the looping stitches. With this arrangement the fabricwill lie flat will not be bunched or otherwise distorted by the raveleven though a relatively tight looping stitch he used. However, as manycourses as are desired may be confined within the ravei stop looping,depending upon whether the ravel stop is to be practically invisible orornamental. This can be done by proper adjustment of existing mach' esor, if necessary, by the renes in a manner that need not be With thelooping stitches loose so that they readily encompass the ravel stopcourses, the ravel stop will lie flat, as shown in Fig. 5, and inaddition will be elastic. In fact, it

a will be just as elastic as if there were no ravel stop there. Pculiarly enough by making the ravel stop looping with loose stitches, itcan be made less visible than bunched ravel stops. This looseness ofravel stop looping also facilitates ornamentation if ornamentation isdesired, and

such ornamentation would not be possible with bunched ravel stops.

For best results in a stocking having plain knit fabric in the area inwhich a coursewise ravel stop is to be introduced, it is desirable toprovide two courses a and b of enlarged loops through which the loops ofthread 16 may pass, the same being separated by a band c which will beencompassed and locked by the stitch formation. Such an arrangement isillustrated in Figs. 2 and l.

As above indicated, the ravel stop is preferably produced upon a loopingmachine, the same having the advantage of assuring that a loop in everyneedle Wale and every sinker wale will be positively locked by thestitch formation constituting the ravel stop. Thus a looping machine ofa conventional type such as illustrated in Fig. 3-0. may be employed,the same including as its essential elements a rotating dial 30 carryinga series of looping pins 31, and a stitch forming mechanism comprising athread carrying needle 32, a thread carrying looping finger 33 and achain ing finger 3a. In applying the stocking fabric to the looping machne, the same is folded along a transverse line, and the doubled fabricempaled the series of looping pins 31 along a line just below the foldline. In order that every needle loop every sinker loop be engaged bythe stitch formation to be formed, a fabric loop a wale of the fabricon. one side of the fold line is empaled upon a pin together with a loopan adjacent wale in a course of the fabric on the other side of the foldline. In producing the rav-ei of Figs. 4 5, above described, each fabricneedle loop 24: is einpaled upon a pin with an adjacent sinker loop 20illustrated in Fig. 3-1). The needle 32 of the ma hine carries thelooping thread it will when the needle traverses alon each looping pinpass loop through each pair of needle and sinker loops 2% and 26, andthe loops so formed will be locked in position through the cooperationof the looping finger 33 which carries the locking thread 17.

The formation of the closely spaced courses of elongated loopsdesignated as a b in Fig. 4 facilitates the application of the pins ofthe looping .1 chine. The fold in the fabric will be made between thetwo elongated courses and the fabric will be applied to the ma chine byempaling the sinker loops in one of the courses upon the pine with theneedle loops in the other course.

To insure against distortion of the stocking fabric when the sameunfolded after the formation of the ravel stop stitching, it importantthat the mach ne produce a relatively loose stitch. To this end it isdesirable that a minimum of ten.- sion be employed on. the middle thr .d16 and the locking thread 17. Also the chaining finger 34 may bepositioned slightly away from te fabric to insure the same end.

Where, however, open won: fabric comprising laterally transferred loopsis provided at suitable portions of the stocking, the ravel stop stitchformation may conveniently be superposed there on, the combinedarrangement being admirably suited as a positive ravel stop. Thisconstruction is diagrammatically represented at 15 in Fig. 1.

In case a supplemental fabric is to be attached to the stocking, a ravelstop stitch formation such as illustrated in Fig. 4 may, besidesperforming its ordinary function, also be used to connect the same tothe stocldng at any desired point. Such an arrangement is shown in Figs.6 and '7, which show a stocking comprising a welt portion 20 and Tilt? aleg portion 21. An additional band of fabric 22, such as may serve toreceive a garter, is provided. The latter may be attached to thestocking by a ravel stop 23 constructed according to the presentinvention at any desired point. In the drawings the same is shownapplied near the line of joinder of the welt and leg fabric.

It will be understood that the essential feature of my invention is theproduction of a ravel stop by means of an independent stitch formationwhich engages and locks a knitted loop in every needl and sinker walealong a line generally transverse of a stocking or other knittedarticles. Such a construction is of great advantage not only because itcan be rapidly put in at any point in the fabric and will positivelyprevent the passage of runs, but also because it may be readily producedat small cost by any of a variety of machines ordinarily present inknitting mills.

I claim:

1. The combination with a knitted stocking having an area of fabric tobe protected cornprising successive interknit courses of thread loops,of a ravel stop extending across the knitted wales of area at anintermediate point in a generally coursewise direction adapted toprevent runs originating in the fabric on either side from passingthrough the successive courses and beyond the ravel stop, said ravelstop comprising a looping stitch formation constituted of independentthread in which the stitches interloop one with a stocking loop in everyknitted wale along the ravel stop and interlock each of said loops withanother stocking loop in another knitted wale and a different course,the stocking fabric at the ravel stop being in normal condition andlying flat, the stitch formation being constructed and arranged toengage the various knitted loops without distortion in the stockingfabric.

2. The combination with a knitted stocking having an area of fabric tobe protected co1nprising successive interknit courses of thread loops,of a ravel stop extending across the knitted wales of said area at anintermediate point in a generally coursewise direction adapted toprevent run-s originating in the fabric on either side from passingthrough the successive courses and beyond the ravel stop, said ravelstop comprising an independent looping stitch formation constituted ofadditional thread, loosely formed on one side of the fabric and havingonly collateral connection with the fabric so as not to distort the sameor interfere therewith, the stitch formation being connected with thefabric only through looping portions of its stitches which pass througheach a knitted loop in every stocking wale along the ravel stop andinterlock each of said knitted loops, without binding of the fabric,with a knitted loop in another wale and in a different course.

3. The combination with a knitted stocking having an area of fabric tobe protected comprising successive interknit courses of thread loops, ofa ravel stop extending across the knitted wales of said area at anintermediate point adapted to prevent runs originating in the fabric oneither side from passing through the successive courses and beyond theravel stop, said ravel stop comprising an independent stitch formationconstructed and arranged to include stitches which engage and look astocking loop in every wale along the ravel stop, the stitch formationbeing constituted of an independent thread formed into a series ofsuccessive loops each of which passes through and locks together astocking loop in one knitted wale and a further stocking loop in anadjacent knitted wale and a different course, together with a secondindependent thread which extends along the ravel stop on one side of thefabric and interlocks with and maintains the successive fabric-lockingloops of the first thread, the stocking fabric at the ravel stop beingin normal condition and lying flat, the stitch formation beingconstructed and arranged to engage the various knitted loops withoutdistortion in the stocking fabric.

4. A method of producing a ravel stop at an intermediate portion of aknitted fabric comprising successive interknit courses of thread loops,which consists in folding the fabric along a line transverse to theknitted wales and empaling the doubled fabric upon a series of pins witha loop in every fabric Wale enipaled upon a pin, a fabric loop in a waleon one side of the fold line being empaled upon a pin together with afabric loop in an adjacent wale and a different course on the other sideof the fold line, forming a loosely constituted series of stitches ofindependent thread along the line of pins and causing the stitches soformed each to pass through and interlock without binding the severalfabric loops empaled on each of the pins.

5. The combination with a knitted stocking having an area of fabric tobe protected comprising successive interknit courses of thread loops andin which area are two closely spaced courses of enlarged loops, of aravel stop, constituted of independent thread extending along a linetransversely to the knitted stocking wales, said ravel stop comprising astitch formation engaging and locking a stocking loop in every knittedfabric wale along the line constructed and arranged to allow the fabricto lie fiat and avoiding distortion in the fabric, the stitches of theformation engaging the fabric through the two courses of enlargedknitted loops and looking a loop in a wale in one of said courses with aloop in a different wale in the other of said courses.

JACOB A. GOODMAN.

